Prosperity - An Immigrant's Success Story - Week 8 of #52 Ancestors
In many ways, my great great grandfather Robert Call (1831-1913) exemplifies the traditional American immigrant success story.
Robert was born on June 5, 1831 in Chawleigh, Devon, England, the son of John Call and Grace Paine. His father John was an agricultural laborer. As of 1841, the family was living in Turnpike Cottage (not sure where they lived when Robert was born.)
In 1851, Robert was working as a farm laborer for Richard Reed in Chawleigh. His parents still lived in Turnpike Cottage.
In 1853, Robert immigrated to America, arriving in Philadelphia on the ship City of Glasgow with 2 pieces of luggage. He initially settled in the Boston area where he worked as a gardener.
In 1858, Robert and his wife Charlotte Joslin (1834-1908) and their son Albert Henry Call (1957-1934) moved to Genesee County, New York.
In 1860, Robert was living in Elba, Genesee County, working as a laborer (presumably on a farm). He didn't own any land, and his personal estate was valued at $ 40.
The 1860's were the decade when everything changed financially for the Call family.
In 1868, Robert purchased his first two pieces of land in Stafford, Genesee County. He paid $ 8700 for his land.
According to the 1870 census, Robert owned real estate valued at $ 12,700 and had a personal estate of $ 1630. The Agricultural Schedules show the variety of livestock he owned and of crops he grew. Robert is on line 13.
Source: Ancestry.com. U.S. Census Non-Population Schedules, New York, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Stafford, Genesee, New York; Archive Collection Number: A23; Roll: 23; Page: 1; Line: 13
In 1875, the value of his home was $ 2000.
In 1879, Robert purchased 111 acres of land known as the Sweetland Farm in Stafford from Ralph and Ameila Sweetland from $ 10,000. Three years later, he purchased 30 acres of land from Elias Cole for $ 10,850.
According to the 1880 Agricultural Schedules, Robert owned 127 acres of land valued at $ 14,000. Like the 1870 schedule, the 1880 schedule shows the variety of farming activities Robert was involved in. He is on line 5 on the schedule
Source: Ancestry.com. U.S. Census Non-Population Schedules, New York, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Stafford, Genesee, New York; Archive Collection Number: A45; Roll: 45; Page: 1; Line: 5
By 1900, Robert Call owned all of his land free and clear. There were no mortgages on his land.
Owning and passing on the land was very important to Robert. In a 1908 letter expressing his wishes to his children, Robert wrote
"And that the lands I have divided be kept in the family as long as possible, in Reverence to Father and Mother Call who by industry and frugality and honesty of purpose and by the goodness of God have been enabled to secure these farms and pay for them, leaving them to you free of any debts. that you may have something to rely on for your daily bread as long as may live, if you will take good care of it, and to be handed down to future Prosperity unemcumbered by debts."
And as far as I know, at some of the land Robert Call owned in the late 1800's is still owned by members of the family.
Robert was born on June 5, 1831 in Chawleigh, Devon, England, the son of John Call and Grace Paine. His father John was an agricultural laborer. As of 1841, the family was living in Turnpike Cottage (not sure where they lived when Robert was born.)
In 1851, Robert was working as a farm laborer for Richard Reed in Chawleigh. His parents still lived in Turnpike Cottage.
In 1853, Robert immigrated to America, arriving in Philadelphia on the ship City of Glasgow with 2 pieces of luggage. He initially settled in the Boston area where he worked as a gardener.
In 1858, Robert and his wife Charlotte Joslin (1834-1908) and their son Albert Henry Call (1957-1934) moved to Genesee County, New York.
In 1860, Robert was living in Elba, Genesee County, working as a laborer (presumably on a farm). He didn't own any land, and his personal estate was valued at $ 40.
The 1860's were the decade when everything changed financially for the Call family.
In 1868, Robert purchased his first two pieces of land in Stafford, Genesee County. He paid $ 8700 for his land.
According to the 1870 census, Robert owned real estate valued at $ 12,700 and had a personal estate of $ 1630. The Agricultural Schedules show the variety of livestock he owned and of crops he grew. Robert is on line 13.
Source: Ancestry.com. U.S. Census Non-Population Schedules, New York, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Stafford, Genesee, New York; Archive Collection Number: A23; Roll: 23; Page: 1; Line: 13
In 1875, the value of his home was $ 2000.
In 1879, Robert purchased 111 acres of land known as the Sweetland Farm in Stafford from Ralph and Ameila Sweetland from $ 10,000. Three years later, he purchased 30 acres of land from Elias Cole for $ 10,850.
According to the 1880 Agricultural Schedules, Robert owned 127 acres of land valued at $ 14,000. Like the 1870 schedule, the 1880 schedule shows the variety of farming activities Robert was involved in. He is on line 5 on the schedule
Source: Ancestry.com. U.S. Census Non-Population Schedules, New York, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Stafford, Genesee, New York; Archive Collection Number: A45; Roll: 45; Page: 1; Line: 5
By 1900, Robert Call owned all of his land free and clear. There were no mortgages on his land.
Owning and passing on the land was very important to Robert. In a 1908 letter expressing his wishes to his children, Robert wrote
"And that the lands I have divided be kept in the family as long as possible, in Reverence to Father and Mother Call who by industry and frugality and honesty of purpose and by the goodness of God have been enabled to secure these farms and pay for them, leaving them to you free of any debts. that you may have something to rely on for your daily bread as long as may live, if you will take good care of it, and to be handed down to future Prosperity unemcumbered by debts."
And as far as I know, at some of the land Robert Call owned in the late 1800's is still owned by members of the family.
The letter adds a nice summation to his life's goal which apparently was to see his children secure with land of their own. He did well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Virginia. I was really pleased to find the letter - it really summed up Robert's views on the importance of the land
DeleteWhat a legacy to pass to family... hard work, responsibility, love of family and a sense of thankfulness for what we have. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDonna - Thanks. Glad you enjoyed my post. The farm Robert purchased in 1879 is still in the family, as is another one purchased by his namesake grandson in 1921. :-)
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